The Baltimore Fencibles-- Part 1: The Only Non-Regular Unit in Fort McHenry

From Fort McHenry Guard.

The Baltimore Fencibles were a volunteer artillery company recruited from private citizens of Baltimore in 1813.  The word fencibles was used by many units in the era to represent local defenders, or the Home Guard.

The Fencibles, led by Captain Joseph Hopper Nicholson, were Federalized militia who were invited to serve with Captain Evans' Regular Corps of Artillery within the walls of Fort McHenry due to the large number of regular artillery who were ill or unfit for duty.

The Fencibles were the only  non-regulars to serve within the walls of the star-shaped fort.

--Brock-Perry